‘Modern feudalism’

Four workers at the ancient Port Eliot Estate in Cornwall, with a total of 70 years’ service, are set to lose their jobs by the end of March in a move branded as ‘modern feudalism’ by Unite.

The union today (January 11) called on the trustees of the 6,000 acre estate to rescind the redundancy notices, especially as there was no written business plan to justify the sackings.

The current imbroglio followed the death of the 10th Earl of St Germans last summer when the trustees employed Savills Rural to run the estate on behalf of the late earl’s grandson and heir.

The union said that grown men had been in tears at the prospect of losing their jobs – the longest serving estate worker has 36 years employment.

“The four gardening and maintenance staff, who are members of Unite, are devastated by the news dished out by Savills on 4 January that they were being made redundant. They have given 70 years’ service to the estate,” said Unite regional officer Nick Owen.

“Finding adequately paid work in Cornwall is hard at the best of times, so, unfortunately, the employment future for our members at present looks bleak.

“The situation is given an added nasty twist by the fact that when Unite asked for a business plan to justify the dismissals, we were told: ‘There is a no written business plan’.

“The estate was running a ÂŁ500,000 deficit last year, but information supplied by Savills revealed that a reduction in hours to all ‘at risk’ staff would not make up the deficit,” he added.

“The estate is employing outside contractors to do the work of those being made redundant, which will probably be more expensive in the long-run.

“The St Germans family has apparently forgotten the concept of ‘noblesse oblige’ – the unwritten obligation of people from alleged noble ancestry to act honourably and generously to others,” Owen went on to say.

“We strongly suggest that the family lives up to these so-called aristocratic ideals and rescinds these cruel redundancies that smack of modern feudalism.”

The redundancies affect six workers – but two of them were not Unite members. Three Unite members will lose their jobs on  March 31 and the other on February 7.

The new year development at the estate, whose history stretches back 1,000 years, follows the death of the 10th earl in July. He was succeeded as 11th earl by his 12-year-old grandson, Albert, but trustees will manage the estate until he comes of age.